NASA Seeks More Commercial Tenants Near Johnson Space Center

NASA is soliciting lease proposals for 184 acres of undeveloped land at Exploration Park adjacent to the Johnson Space Center in Southeast Houston.

The government space agency posted the announcement, which advertises site visits on Feb. 18 and requires proposals by April 30, to the System for Award Management website, the Houston Business Journal reported.

The land, accessible by Saturn Lane, can be subdivided for commercial tenants interested in setting up shop, according to the announcement. It is available for a 20-year base period with two 20-year extension options, and it will be rented annually for $8,112 to $11,781 per acre, with a 3% annual escalation rate.

Projects underway at the 240-acre Exploration Park include ACMI Properties and Griffin Partners’ 1.5M SF purpose-built commercial space innovation hub. In May, KBR committed to serving as an anchor tenant and opening a 45K SF spaceflight food lab at the development. 

ACMI Properties, an aerospace and national security facilities developer, said the 22-building development will support U.S. efforts to return to the moon, reach Mars and expand capabilities in orbit. In June, ACMI Properties announced its development team to build on its 207 acres of leased land. Phase 1 is slated for completion near the end of this year.

NASA issued a 2023 call for proposals to develop underutilized land at Exploration Park, which also led to a 30-acre lease agreement with the Texas A&M University System. The university broke ground on the Texas A&M Space Institute in November 2024, and that is expected to be completed this year.

NASA’s goals for leasing more land at Exploration Park are to increase commercial access to space and enhance U.S. commercial competitiveness in the space and aerospace industries, according to the announcement.